Bob Became a Private Pilot at 55 Years Old 

I am 57 and just started back pursuing my PPL. I started taking lessons from my Dad in 1973 when I was 11 years old. Now he has passed and I owe it to him and myself to pursue my PPL. Flying is expensive so I just bought a 1961 Forney F1A Aircoupe.

Nope. There are ways you can get to fly. The EAA members in general will fly at the drop of a barometer. Get acquainted with the local airport personnel. My oldest student was 83 years old. He collected pop cans on his scooter for flying lessons. But that was a 'few' years ago. He sold his house and bought an Ercoupe 415C. He gave more flights to aspiring pilots than anyone around just for cost sharing on fuel.

You can build your self a plane for a few grand if you are willing to forgo all the luxury items that drive the market. I think the issue isn’t you can’t afford to fly, more that you don’t think it’s worth flying anything less than a Cadillac. Can you imagine if you refused to consider getting a car unless it was a quarter million dollar luxury machine? My first car was a beater GrandAm, there are aircraft equivalents out there if your willing.

Ha! Bought my beech bonanza for less than my pickup. Heading into the wild blue right now!

Windtee While VFR? Hmmm

@@ronrico4741 She must have been in G space during the day or in B space or flew with someone who was on an IFR flightplan. It's a mystery we may never know.

Dick Johnson ...really irresponsible advice. Ercoupes can have weakened spars.

@@davidjose2193 It's humor not advice. Any 'coupe pilot knows the limitations of the bird. This plane was designed so that any GI could fly it. That was the concept anyway. The elevator authority, or lack thereof, will not allow the bird to hurt itself. You'll be lucky to climb 200 feet before the bird refuses to go any further. You might pull 1.275 Gs. The bird is stall proof, but not high rate-of-sink proof.

That's pretty funny. The Ercoupe wasn't designed with aerobatics in mind. For this, might I suggest a Yak. Guaranteed e-ticket ride. If enjoying flying more moderately is your cup of tea, there's nothing quite like the Ercoupe. The open cockpit is yours at will, simply roll the canopy. Few other aircraft have such a cool bubble between you and the clouds, but gliders...but their widows don't roll down at will.

@@robertborchert932 Erco has a bunch of pics of the "Ercoupe Aerobatic Team." ERCO buit a temwin coupe ala`F(P)-82 Twin Mustang. They built a strong center section and bolted the 'Coupes together at their stub wings, and 'viola.' The Twin 'Coupe performed at many shows. Wish I could have flown it. If the 'Coupe were built today, it would give I-CON a run. I love the coupes because you can actually go somewhere in them. Just plane fun.